Hindutva and nationalism cannot be one and same: Prakash Raj

News Network

December 6, 2017

Belagavi, Dec 6: Multilingual actor and activist Prakash Raj has slammed the attempts of some organisations and political parties to equate the concept nationalism with Hindutva.

Speaking during the anti-blind belief day at the Sadashiva Nagar graveyard here on Wednesday, he said: “To say that nationalism and Hindutva are one and the same is the new blind belief.”

“Some vested interests are spreading this new blind belief. We should guard ourselves against this. A Union Minister has asserted this in the Dharma Samsad held recently in Udupi. This is nothing but an attempt at infusing the new blind belief that nationalism is Hindutva,” he added.

He further said: “We are susceptible to blind belief as we are innocent. Our awareness levels were low. Now we need to educate ourselves about the designs of such interests. Looking at the crowd, I felt that there is still hope. Now I see that there are a lot of healthy people in this country. The fight against blind belief can still go on strong.”

Mr. Rai called for young people to adapt the ideologies preached by thinkers like Ambedkar. He spoke of some threats he received after he spoke against right-wing forces.

“I am not afraid. I do not need police security. I am among the people. If anybody does something to me, they will be exposed. However, I am worried and afraid for the society. But then we should stand up to them. They are cowards. They will be defeated,” he said.

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well said sir....!!!

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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